yzarcem

I have $600 that I can invest in a 350 that I have (I already have a rebuild gasket set, too), and could go to $750 if it was well spent. I want her to launch off the line like nobody's business, and I want it to be extremely difficult NOT to blow doors off of Sunday drivers on a straight-way. I don’t care as much about high speeds, but I don't want nitrous. I would like to know what 350hp or more feels like at my command.

Here’s what we know about my once called mystery engine subject of the upgrade:

It came out of a wrecked truck, and was rumored to have only 5,000 miles on it. It passed a leak down test with a maximum variance of 3%. The bearings are smooth. It is a good 350 block 2-bolt main, 3970010, “CNR” … but it is full of rebuilt of parts so she’s not going to see even the 300hp stock she once was without some work.

• New set of ACDelco R43S on my shelf

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and advice.

Apeiron

Neither of those heads is much good, but use the 450s if changing them isn't an option.

It would be a good idea to measure the volume of the dish and how far down the hole they are at TDC to calculate your compression ratio with the new heads.

Measure the journals on the crank to see if it's been worked on or if it needs work. Absolutely replace the bearings.

Might as well change it for a known quantity.

Ok

2101 would be fine.


I don't know how far it's all going to go towards your goal of blowing doors off, but you can make it fun to drive. A $750 budget can get eaten up VERY quickly though.

Damon

On that budget and a 350HP goal you're going to be tight. What I'd build would be what I call a "hand greande special". Don't sweat it, they almost never blow up if you're careful and don't try to rev them like a race motor.

What it means, basically, is leaving the bottom end of the motor alone. Don't change pistons, rods or crank. Don't have any machine work done. Just new bearings and rings and put it back together.

Put the money where it will do the most good- cam and heads.

-882 casting heads are low-compression 76cc "emissions era" heads. THey will yield compression in the low 8s with stock-replacement dished pistons (which usually have about 12-13cc worth of total dish volume). That's too low. Plus they don't flow anything special.

Job one is increasing compression. If you could find some good Vortec heads you would not only improve compression (up to about 9:1) but you would also pick up a sizable increase in flow. BUT you couldn't use your current intakes- you would have to buy an aftermarket Vortec-style intake for about $175-200 (new).

If you don't want to go that way you could scour the classified for some nice standard intake-pattern heads with 64cc chambers. Maybe if you get lucky you could find some 64cc heads that are acutally performance-oriented. Like a nice old school set of Sportsman II heads or something similar. Just about ANYTHING that's got the smaller 64cc chambers and some kind of performance pedigree with the old 85-down intake bolt pattern will work.

Use the 305 heads only as a last resort. Yes, they will bump the compression up quite nicely, but they won't flow any better than your -882s. On the cheap, if your back is against the wall, use them if they're in good condtion.

Cam.... don't go nuts. With 64cc heads that flow anything better than stock you only need a mild "RV" performance cam. A Summit K1103 would work fine and costs nothing (about $90 with lifters). For a few bucks more you could pick up a more modern Comp XE256 or XE262 cam. Neither is "big and lumpy" but they are huge compared to a stock cam and will complement a modest build like this quite nicely. Remember to upgrade the springs in the heads to match the cam. A cheap set of eBay "Z-28" springs will work fine. Just don't try to use stock springs with a performance cam.

Yes, use the Perfomer intake.

Yes, put a decent exhaust on it. BUT DO NOT underestimate the cost of a complete exhaust with headers! On a 3rd Gen Camaro a set of shorty headers, matchign y-pipe and cat-back exhaust can run you easily your whole budget installed in the car.

yzarcem

Sounds like a plan. Thank you both! I would like to stay out of Vortec unless I don't have a choice...too much to buy and remember. I do have the exhaust taken care of, so that is a bonus.

Would this be an improvement: 64cc chevy bowtie heads screw in studs guide plates 550 lift springs 202/160 valves. $550 for the pair

gwarren007

iTrader: (1)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-C...item519838c7e7

yzarcem

Thank you for that direction...those look awesome! I was starting to consider Vortec, but after taking into account that they are a little higher than this pair for the heads alone, add the special intake, new center-bolt valve covers, and the work to make sure there are no lift issues...I would be at lease $250 heavier if I went Vortec.

These look sexy!